CONSUMER PROTECTION, TELECOMMUNICATION SECTOR

Communication right from creation is a very essential aspect of human existence. Just as it is obtainable in other parts of the universe, the concept of consumer protection is same in Nigeria. It is designed to protect consumers from unscrupulous producers and service providers. The telecommunication sector in Nigeria is an active participant in this development as seen in the accelerated growth of the industry with one innovation replacing another in quick succession. Following the opening up of the telecommunication sector of the Nigerian economy in 2002, telecommunication services became widely available in the country with the number of active telephone lines presently trying to equal the population of the country. However, with the rapid growth of the telecommunication industry and the consequent expansion of its consumer base, consumer dissatisfaction has become rife in Nigeria. Consumer complaints against telecommunication services provider include call interference and loss of audio, high rates of call attempts, recurrent downtimes, long delay and non-delivery of SMS, multiple deliveries of a single SMS and unsolicited commercial text messages. While the government has responded through the enactment of legislations, with the aim regulating the telecommunication sector, the issue of consumer dissatisfaction still continues amidst these legislations. Utilizing the doctrinal research methodology, this research work seeks to the efficiency of the regulatory frame work on the regulation of the telecommunication sector and consumer protection in Nigeria. The research work concluded by making salient recommendation which implemented will ensure more protection of the telecommunication consumers in Nigeria.